Weather-shield for track-scales.



- A. S. VO GT,F. M. BASLER L L. SCHLACHTER.

WEATHER SHIELD FOR TRACK SCALES.

APPucATmN man APR. 11, |911.

11191111111 July 31, 1917;

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Fav/w 519% 5*@ 15mm. ycffrffa A. S. VOGT, F. M. BASLER L L. J. SCHLACHTER.

' WEATHER SHIELD'FOR TRACK SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. II, I9I7| Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 7 A. S. VOG'T, F. M. BASLER & i.. J. SCHLACHTER.

WEATHER SHIELD FOR TRACK SCALES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11,1917,

11,234,980. l Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

P0 d. 'SCHL/1017EA? 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL S. VOGT, FRANK M. BASLER, AND LEO J. SCHLACHTER, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYL- VANIA.

WEATHER-SHIELD FOR TRACK-SCALES.

Application filed April 11, 1917.

T0 all fte/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that AXEL S. Voor, a subject of the King of Sweden, FRANK M. BnsLnR and Lno J. SCHLACHTER, citizens of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Teather-Shields for Track- Scales, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in track scales, and more particularly has special reference to a novel weather shield for preventing the entrance of water and other foreign matter into the scale pit by way of the deck slots through which the scale track-supports project.

To this end, the invention has in view a simple and practical construction which may be readily assembled and put into position on the scale track to shed water and foreign matter from the latter onto the scale deck, thereby preventing the same from following the sides of the supports or passing through the deck slots to the mechanism in the pit. In this connection, the invention proposes to provide a shield or guard that is economically manufactured and which is substantial, durable, and effective in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sectional weather shield construction involving a plurality of removable and replaceable guard sections which are provided with novel means for engaging the rail supports of the scale mechanism and are also-provided with novel interlocking end portions which make a water-tight joint between each section.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of a portion of the deck of a scale pit showing the position Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917. Serial No. 161,384.

and arrangement of the several sections of the weather shield.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the const-ructionand arrangement shown in Fig. l.

F 1g. 8 is an enlarged detail plan view of the joint ends'of the sections, showing them in assembled relation, and in position upon the rail supporting members of the scale mechanism.

Fig. 'e' is a vertical sectional view on the line -fl of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view clearly illustrating the type of joint provided between the male and female guard sections.

Fig. 6 is detail cross the line (3*6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line -T of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a det-ail sectional view of the joint between the male and female guard sections.

F ig. 9 is a detail view of one of the male guard sections, showing the relative disposition of the reversely disposed locking lugs carried thereby.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several iigures of the drawings.

The usual type of track scale, includes a Xed deck or roof D, for the scale pit A, in which the scale mechanism is located, and this deck is provided with suitable openings or slots S through which the rail supports of the scale mechanism project. It is through this opening or slot which extends throughout the length of the deck D that water, ashes and other foreign matter drop onto the scale mechanism, thereby hampering its operation and decreasing its accuracy, and to provide against this, the present weather and dirt shield is provided.

As will be observed from Fig. l, this shield is applied to both rails R of the scale track-section, thus completely covering both of the slots S, and providing a cover for the latter which in no way hinders the operation of the scale mechanism. Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings show that at each edge of the slot S, the deck D is provided with the angle plates l, whose upstanding iiange 2 cosectional view on operates with the shield member G located at each side of the rails.

Referring now to this novel weather shield construction designated generally as G and which is duplicated on each side of the rails R, it will be observed that each shield includes in its organization an eaves plate designated generally as 3 andthe angular guard sections a. The said eaves plate 3 is carried by the rails and has the substantially vertical attaching flange portion 5 which is secured to the 'rail webs by means of the bolts 6, and the upper outwardly and downwardly extending portion, which follows the underside of the rail headA to a point substantially in line with the sides of the rail head where it is turned down to provide a depending drip flange 7. Thus, the plates 3, carried by the rails R in the fishing spaces thereof, are formed with a cap portion which cooperates with the guard sections l as will hereinafter more fully appear to shed water from the rail head, and extend along the rails throughout the length of the scale track-section.

As previously indicated each shield G includes the guard sections 4, alternate ones of which may be conveniently termed male and female sections Vrespectively designated as M and F, because of the character of their interlocking end portions. These guard sections are of similar angular cross section, and on the whole they are substantially alike, except the end portions thereof which interlock with an adjoining section. That is to say, both male and female guard sections are of angular formation and include the top and side wings W and W, and the top wings W of both are provided with the upstanding flange portion 8 which underlies the depending drip flange 7 of the eaves plate, as clearly shown in Fig. t. Furthermore, each guard section is provided on the underside thereof along the edge portion adjacent the flange S with a continuous abutment stri 3 9 which is welded or otherwise suitably astened to the under face of the wing W of the section for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now to the male guard sections M, it will be understood from Figs. 5 and 9 that both ends of this section are similar. That is to say, the ends of this section are provided with the upstanding tenonrfiange portion 10 which is. of uniform height Valong the side wing portion W of the section, but only of uniform height for part of the width of the top wing YV. As will be observed from Fig. 5, this flange 10 at about the middle of the wing `W flattens out into the plane of the latter to provide for flushly receiving the raised portion 11 of the adjoining female section F. The upstanding flange 8 of the male guard member M is bent Vout of its normal plane as indicated at 12 to provide clearance for'the upstanding flange 8 of the female section F when the two members are interloclred, and the flat portion 11a of the male guard section M fits beneath the raised portion 11 of the female member F, while the upstanding flange l() of the former is adapted to fit into the socketformed by the arched end portion or rib 13 formed at the cndof the female section. Thus, as will be observed from Fig. S, when the two sections are interloclred at the ends, the hollow rib 13 of the female section will completely house and accommodate the ange 11 of the male section M, thereby preventing water from passing through the joint or union thus formed. v

In connection with the male section M it will be observed from Fig. 9 that the under face of the wing portion W thereof has secured thereto by welding or other means a pair of reversely disposed locking abutments 14T', which are preferably in the form of angle plates, having a depending locking flange 15 for engaging with a suitable support to prevent longitudinal displacement of the assembled sections. That is to say, the depending locking flanges 15 of the abutments carried by the male guard section are adapted to engage at one side of a substantially U-shaped supporting bracketV 1G which is held in position by the bolt B which holds the rail clip in locking or clamping position against the flange of the rail.

rlhis bracket 16'preferably comprises an intermediate attaching portion having at each end thereof upstanding arms of unequal length to enga-ge and support the several guard sections, and are located at the necessary intervals to secure the desired sup- Y porting effect. The longest arm 17 of the bracket is adjacent the rail web, while the shorter arm is adjacent the depending wing 'W7' of the guard sections, and these arms provide for carrying the guard sections so that the upper wing WV thereof will be inl clined to form a more effective water shed. The upper edge of the long arm 1'? in adllt? dition to its supporting effect constitutes a stop for the abutment strip 9 carried by the under side of the wing W, thereby preventing lateral displacement of the guard sections when they are assembled and in operative position at each side of the rail.

Y From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present weather shield essentially comprises a cap plate member carried by the webs of the rails of theV track section, and having an overhanging drip flange; and a plurality of 'angular guard sections having an upstanding flangcrportion which lies beneath the'drip flange of the eaves plate, and which are provided at each end with anovel j ointV which not only holds the members interlocled, but prevents water frompassing between the same.

The male guard sections M are the only sections which carry the locking abutments 14, which engage with the supporting brackets 16, and only a sufficient number of these members carry the locking abutments to ethciently prevent longitudinal displacement of the entire shield construction Gr comprising the several guard sections 4. That is to say, the male guard sections M are the only ones which are interlocked with the supporting brackets 16 and the female guard sections are prevented from longitudinal displacement because of their interlocking connection with the ends of the male guard sections. Furthermore, this arrangement facilitates the fitting of the several guard sections to the'supporting member of the scale mechanism on which the rail is mounted, because it permits the male sections to be laid in position and locked against longitudinal displacement by the abutments 14 and against lateral displacement by the strip 9, and then the female guard sections can be superimposed thereon and held in proper position, because of the interlock aorded by the flange 10 and socket of the hollow rib 13. That is to say, it will be understood that the male sections M are first applied to the supports 16 in the manner indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, whereby the reversely arranged abutments 14 and 15 will engage the opposite sides of said supports to lock the male sections against longitudinal displacement while the abutment strip 9 also engages the arm 17 of the support to prevent lateral displacement, and then the female sections F are placed onto the male sections as also indicated by the dotted lines and arrow in Fig. 4.

In operation, it will be apparent that water will be shed from the rail head onto the drip flange 7 of the eaves plate, and will drop from the edge of the flange onto the outer face of the wing portion l of the guard sections. VOwing to the fact that the flange 8 of the guard section lies beneath the rounded portion of the cap plate, no water can make its way to the scale mechanism by following the web of the rail. Thus, water shed onto the wingW of the guard sections will -run down the outer surface wing M7 and drip onto the deck being further prevented from entering the slots S in the latter, because of the overlapping relation between the lower edge of the guard sections and the fiange 2 of the angle plates 1. It will, of course, be understood that sufficient clearance is provided between the lower edge of the angle plates and the dec.; plate to provide for the depression of the track section of the scale, without displacing the guard sections from their position on the brackets 16.

Without further description, it is thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will, of course, be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

`We claim:

1. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves member carried by the rails, and a shield comprising a plurality of guard sections carried by the support and cooperating with the caves member to provide a rain-proof joint.

Q. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves member carried by the rails, and a plurality of interlocking guard sections carried by the support.

3. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves member carried by the rails, and a plurality of separate guard sections having interlocking end portions carried by the support.

4. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves member carried by the rails, and a plurality of separate guard sections having interlocking end portions, and means carried by certain of said sections for preventing both lateral and longitudinal displacement of the several interlocked sections.

5. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, angle irons along the edge of said openings, supporting members projecting through said openings, rails mounted thereon, an eaves plate carried by the rails, and angular guard sections carried by the supporting members, and having one end disposed beneath a portion of the eaves plate, and the other end overhanging the deck side of the angle irons.

6. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, angle irons along the edge of said openings, supporting members projecting through said openings, rails mounted thereon, an eaves plate carried by the rails and having a rail web attaching portion, and a downwardly and outwardly curved cap portion, and an angular shield carried by the supporting members, and consisting of a plurality of interlocked guard sections, each having one end disposed beneath the curved cap portion of the eaves plate, and the other end overhanging the deck side of the angle irons.

7. A shield for Vtrack scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves plate carried in the lishing space of the rails, and a shield carried by the supports for the rails, said shield comprising a plurality of angular guard plates having interlocking end portions, and an upstanding iiange along one edge thereof, said flange cooperating with the eaves member to provide a rain-proof joint.

8. A shield for track scales including in combination, a deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves plate carried by the rails, brackets carried by said supports, and a shield mounted upon said brackets and comprising a pluralit of angular guard sections having interloc ring end portions.

9. A shield for track scales including in combination, a deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves plate carried by the rails, brackets carried by said supports, a shield mounted upon said brackets and including a plurality of angular guard sections alternate ones of which are provided with male and female interlocking end portions.

10. A shield for track scales including in combination a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves plate carried by the rails, brackets carried by the supports, a shield comprising a plurality of separate guard sections having interlocking end portions, each section having an upstanding flange at one edge adapted to lie beneath a portion of the eaves plate, and also having a continuous abutment strip located adjacent said i'iange, and certain of said guard sections having reversely disposed locking elements for engaging with said brackets to prevent longitudinal movement of the shield. y

11. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves plate carried by the rails, brackets carried by the supports for the rails, and a shield mounted upon said brackets, said shield comprising a plurality of interlocking guard sections having means for engaging with said brackets to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement of the shield on the support. Y

12. A shield for track scales including in combination, a scale deck having openings, rails and supports therefor projecting through said openings, an eaves plate carried by the web of the rails and having an outwardly and downwardly curved cap portion, brackets carried by said supports for the rails, and a shield mounted upon said brackets, said shield including a plurality of mating guard sections having interlock ing end portions, and an upstanding iange at one edge adapted to be positioned beneath the cap portion of the eaves plate, a continuous abutment strip carried by each of the guard members for engaging with the brackets to prevent lateral movement of the shield, and depending locking elements carried by certain of said guard sections for engaging certain of the brackets to prevent longitudinal displacement of the shield.

In testimony whereofwe afix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

AXEL S. VOGT. FRANK M. BASLER. LEO J. SCHLACHTER.

Witnesses:

J. T. HANLON, N. E.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

